Conveyer



E. H. ALLFREE Nov. 14, 1933.

CONVEYER 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 25. 1932 u@ mp5 nu. NWN

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E INVENToR A oRNl-:Y

0V. 14, 1933. E H ALLI-'REE 1,935,106

CONVEYER Filed Feb. 25, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 o )4/ o l L Q (O a? 72 VI i 55 k y l V A Z 2v INVENTOR fm 25 BY Maw,

A"`ToRNEY Nov. 14, 1933. E. H. ALLFREE 1,935,106

CONVEYER Filed Feb. 25, 1952 4 Sheeizs-Sheefl 3 IIIII. XH'.

TTORNEY Nov. 14, 1933. E H ALLFREE 1,935,106

CONVEYER Filed Feb. 25, 1932 4 sheets-sheet 4 w-J-f- 7/ ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 14,Y l1931? Y UNITED STATES CONVEYER Edwin H. Allfree, Ironton, ohie Application February 25, 1932. SerialNo. 595,201

8 Claims.

This invention relates to the loading and transportation of materials and comprises a structure which,k combines, within itself, functions and operations hitherto accomplished by two diierent 5 types of machines, namely, power shovels and oscillating conveyers. Y v i This invention, which hereinafter, for convenience, I shall term a shaker shovel, is primarily adapted for use in mines, and consists of a structure so designed, constructed and operated that it performs the digging and loading work heretofore accomplished by powershovels together with the transportation of the material formerly performed by oscillating conveyers.`

The objects of the invention are as follows: f First-To construct a device of the character specified in such a manner that it comprises a mobile unit capable of transport from place to place, under its own power, without disassembling of parts.

Second- To construct the device in such a manner that while one half of the oscillating members of the conveyer are engaged in forward movement theV other half are engaged in'rear- Vward'movement and vice versa, whereby the forces of inertia are divided and opposed, in approximately equal amounts, with a consequent lelimination of vibration to such a substantial degree as to render unnecessary the rigid mounting and bracing heretofore essential in conveyers of ysimilar type. Y

Third-The provision of means integral with the device, for effecting the desired opposed movement of the members of the oscillating con-l veyer.

Fourth-The provision of means integral with the device and operative at will, for moving it from'place to place.

Fifth- The provision of improved connecting V means between adjacent sections in the conveyer train; f

Sirth.-The provision of improved supporting means for the sections in the conveyer train.

Seventh-Other objects and advantages of the r invention Will fully appear and will be readily understood from the following detailed description of the construction and cooperation of the parts. These objects are attained in the `manner hereinafter setl forth, reference being had to the accompanying four sheets of drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts in the several figures.

The invention consists of structural characteristics and relative arrangement of elements t0 be pointed out in the appended claims.v

In the draWings: v i Figure 1 is a top plan View, somewhat diagrammatic in nature;v of 'a shaker shovelconstructed 60 in accordance with-,and embodying'` the principlesl of this invention; v Y

Figure 2 is a similar view, on a somewhat larger scale than Figure 1, of the central 'portion of the device and illustratingin greater detail the power plant thereof;

` Figure 3is a side view of Figure 2; s

, Figure4 is asimilarside view of.` the shovel or. digging end of the device; ,i

` Figure 5i's a greatly enlarged vertical sectional view'on 'the line V`- V of Figure 2 andillustrating the means' `employed for. imparting reciprocating movement to the membersv of the oscillating conveyer; y. Figure 6 is a horizontal, sectional view onthe o line'VI-v-VI "of Figure 5; l o Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view villustrating the sequence of variation in oscillating yvelocity of the conveyer members and the oppositionof the forces orinertiafto obtain approximate balance;

Figure is a vertical sectional view on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 2 and illustrating the'means employed for moving, the 'device from place tor85 place; A L 'v Figure 91s a top plan view of one end of a conveyer member illustrating the kSupporting ymeans therefor andthe connecting means adaptedto secure it to the 'end of an adjacent member in 90 the conveyer train;y Y

Figure 10 isa'side view, partly broken away, of the parts 'shown in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is avertical sectional view on the' line XI-XI of Figure 10; Y a Figure 12 is a view similar toa Yportion of Figure 10, but illustrating also the cooperating 'end' of the adjacent member of the conveyertraink with the connecting means of the two members in engagedv position; i

, Figure 13 is a sectional plan viewjon theline XIII-XIII of Figurel 12; l

Figure 14 is a top'plan viewvsimilar to a portion of Figure 1; and illustrating certain means by` which the shovel at the digging end of the 105 device may be swung yfromfsideto side; ,Y

Figure 15 is a greatly enlarged vertical sectional view on the line'XV-XV of Figure 14; and, Figure 16is a side View 'of the parts shownin Figure 15.

hereinafter more fully described and particularly the parts' shown in Briefly stated, this invention contemplates the use of a series of conveyer members connected together to two trains of substantially equal` length and weight and adapted to overlap at their meeting point. Means are provided, preferably at this meeting point, for causing simultaneous oscillatory movement of the trains but in opposite directions. At the outer end of the materlal receiving train is connected a shovel member adapted to oscillate with that train. The invention further contemplates the mounting of the conveyer members upon a train of connected wheeled trucks in such manner that they are reciprocable in respect thereto so that during the oscillations of the trains of conveyer members the train of trucks is motionless. Finally, the train of trucks is mounted upon a track and power means, preferably associated with the conveyer oscillating means, is provided to actuate driving mechanism whereby the train of trucks and conveyers carried thereby may be moved, as a unitary structure, from place to place upon the rails.

Referring, in the first instance, to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, there is shown a shaker shovel comprising' a central powervunit A, a material conveyer train B, and a material delivery conveyer train C.

The power unitA embodies a platform 21 supported as a truck upon two pairs of wheels 22 on axles 23. A motor 24 is mounted upon the platform 21 and its shaft 25 is provided with a pair of worm gears 26 meshing with worms 27 on the wheel axles 23, as shown in detail in Figure 8.

The wheels 22 are of the conventional anged type and engage rails 28 so that when the motor worm gearings, the positions of which are indicated at 33l and 3'4 in `Figures 1 and'2, and which are shown in detail in Figure 5. Each of these gearings comprises a worm 35 on the shaft 32 which'meshes with a worm gear 36 secured to a vertical shaft 37 rotatably mounted in a bearing structure carried by the platform 21. At the base of each shaft 37 is a head 38 from which projects downwardly a crank pin 39 engaging` one end of a link 41, which in turnr is engaged at its other end by one arm of a lever 42 pivot'ally mounted upon a vertical stud 43 mounted on a support ing structure carried by the platform 21.

The other arm of` the lever 42, which is actuated by the gear mechanism indicated at 33 in Figures 1 and 2, is connected to a conveyer member 44, which is the inner or last member in the material receiving conveyer train B. The corresponding arm of the similar lever 42, which is actuated bythe gear mechanism indicated at 34 in Figures 1 and 2, is connected to a conveyer 445, which is the inner or first member in the material' delivery conveyer train C. The adjacent ends of the members 44 and 45 Vare at all times in overlapping relation to each other so i that material discharged from the conveyer train B will be received by `theconveyer train C in a manner to lbe later described.

The material receiving conveyertrain B consists of a plurality of connecting members 46 and mounted members 47 pivotally connected to.

gether to form an articulated whole. Similarly, the material delivery conveyer train C consists of a plurality of similar connecting members 46 and mounted members 47, which are likewise pivotally connected together to form an articulated whole.

Each mounted member 47 is reciprocably mounted upon a wheeled truck 43 mounted upon the tracks 28 and adjoining trucks of each train are pivotally connected to each other and the trains of trucks are pivotally connected to the platform 21 of the power unit A by means of draw bars 49. Thus, it will be seen that the trucks form articulated trains corresponding, in articulation, to the conveyer trains, and the manner in which the entire device may be driven from' place to place, under its own power, wherever the tracks extend, is self-evident and calls for no further description.

The mounted member 47 at the outer end of the conveyer train B, remote from the power unit A, is xedly mounted upon its truck 48 rather than reciprocabie thereupon and at its outer end has hingedly Vand detachably secured to it a scoop or shovel 5l adapted, under the influence of the oscillation of the conveyer train, to ldig into, pick up and feed along any material upon a pile or collection on which it may be brought to bear. The manner in which this scoop or shovel 51 is secured to the end member 47 is, preferably, as illustrated in detail in Figures 15 and 16, wherein it is shown that the member 47 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced knuckles 52, the shovel 51 is provided with Va centrally disposed offset knuckle 53 and union is eiected by means of a laterally removable coupling pin 54 which `engages with all three of the knuckles. Y

When the device is in operation, it may frequently be desirable to swing the shovel 5l from side to side without disturbing the position of the rest of the structure. This may readily be effected, especially when thedevice is located ,at a dead end of track, as it most usually will be, in

themanner shown in Figure 14, In this view, the track is shown as having its rails equipped.'

with block-and-tackle structures 55 and 56, the

outer pulleys 57 of which are fixedly mounted' swing from Vside to side of the path'of operationv The tension and slackening of of the shovel 51. the cables may be effected by hander it may be power controlled from the power unit A in a manner so obvious as to require no specic illustra7 tion. K y

In the operation of the device, the motor 31 causes oscillation of the levers 42 through the medium of the interposed worm gearings, shafts, crank pins,. and links. The two crank pins 39 are so positioned, rotatively, in respect to one another that the movements of the levers are opposed. rlhat is 'to say, theconveyer train B is caused to oscillate forwardly towards the power unit A during the time that the conveyer train C is caused to oscillate rearwardly towards the power unit and vice versa. Thus, the forwardly exerted force of inertia of the train B will be met and substantially neutralized by the simultaneous v rearwardly exerted force'of inertia of the train C, and the rearwardly exerted force of inertia of the train B will be met and substantially neuthey farenegligible.' ,j

tralizedby thesimultaneous forwardly exerted force of inertia of the train C. Inasmuch as the twoA trains are designedtobe of practicallyequal length and'gweight,- this .neutralization of inertia strains and stresses, while'not by any means one hundredV per cent, is ofsuch a great degreev that vibration-is reduced .to a'point where the deviceis practicallysself supporting and ire'quires `Ano outside bracing or anchorage.- Asa further: result ofthe elimination-of disturbing forces or `undesirable vibration, they devicel may traverse Aand operate. overlightly constructed .trestles, 'a Afeature which -hashitherto been impossiblewithos-l cillating :.conveyers for; the reason that such trestles .couldnot; withstand the great vibration inherent to` suchiconveyers. f,

. The reason ,that` vibration 'can notbe wholly eliminatedand-the inertia forces caused to com-y pletely neutralize each otheris that theforward and r,backward oscillations` ofthe conveyor trains B and C, while opposed,andrythmic,` are vrnot harmonious.. `In order toeect maximum' forward feedv` of the material undertransportation, each forward swing of each conveyer train `is `characj; terized by slowly accelerated and rapidly retarded motion, and each backward swingof each con-- veyer train is characterized by rapidly accelerated andfslowlyl retarded motion'.l Thusas the reciprocations vof the two trains are opposed, slow, ac-V celerationof one train' will always-.be opposed vby rapid accelerationof the other, and rapid retardation of one will always be. opposedby slowgrer-v tardation of the;.other,and viceversa, and there will alwaysbe a preponderance of .inertia 4force exertedin one direction orthe other'with a certainI amount off consequent vibration, `butthe terrific Asurges and pulsations, heretofore an inescapable.- concomitant of` operationpf oscillating conveyers, have beenrovercome to a pointwhere y.The timing r.and sequencey of accelerationA and retardation during the oscillations .of i the conveyer trains. arey illustrated, diagrammatically, in

Figure7... The twok crankj pins controlling;y theI j oscillations are. shown at .and y, diametrically opposed and asthough revolving about a rcommon center e. The two linke are shown at an and n.-

I The'velocity of oscillation of the conveyertrains atA one stage oftheir-movement isjasthelength j; ofthe line Land at the oppositestage lof their n byfadjustment of the nuts 82, and'slackness or movement it is 'as the vlength of the lineA b.

- The'crank pins rotate with uniform speed and, due to, theangulardispostion of thevlinks, the desiredvariationsin velocity. of oscillation of i the conveyerftrains is establishedand maintained. .'Irh'e manner in which the conveyerfmembers. 47 are.Y supported jupon the trucks48 soasto bev capable of reciprocation in respectv .thereto is best shown in Figures 9, and 1l.

v Each l,truck 48 -econsistsof ap latform 61,V frames 62 and wheels 63 rotatably mounted -onV axles 64.V The axles are fixedlysecured to-the body of vthetru'cl: lby means kofV Ufbolts. Se-

cured tothe platformfl are vvpairs of laterally .j spaced 'rails 6B upon., .which rest.- rollers l674 se( cured, inpairs, to shafts 68. Resting ,uponthe` upper faces ofthe rollers 67 are pairsof laterally spaced rails 69 securedto the under faceflofthe Y conveyer member 47. When the Y conveyer memf ber. trains are voscilla/ted, the rails V69 run upon the rollers 67..which, in `turn, run uponthe rails 66; andV the supporting trucks thus. provide a.

fixed vand motionless' support for'the oscillating conveyer trains". Accidental verticalormlateral: ,'.g'dislodge'mentx of the. conveyer membersv from the proper relation vbetween the conveyer the trucksiis ".prevented.' by means.' of retaining plates 71, detachably secured to the '.upper facesof the side frames 62i-of the trucks. s Any tendency. towardsv slipping of thesu'pportingrollers 67 between the rails 66 and.69 is prevented by means Ofcertain positive rack and spur connec` tionztherebetween. Adjacent each rollers'67 and preferably formed integrally'-therewith is aspur pinion 72; Adjacent each'rail 66 and preferably formedflintegrallyv therewith is a rack 73. vAnd adjacenteach rail 69 isa similarly formed rack 74.5 While theweight of the members 47 is always supported bythe rollers 67, the spurs 72 are constantlyin .mesh with ,thev racks 73and 74 and mem*- ber and supporting truck is insuredr.`

ln, orderrthatthe Vdeviceffmay be moved over the track from place to place, it is necessary that both the conveyer member trains and the sup` porting truckY train be similarly articulated, Vas previously described. This is best accomplished by providing the adjacentconveyer members and adjacent truckandfdraw bars .with vertically aligned couplings orv connecting' means. These are-:preferably provided in the'manner shownin 10i) Figures 9; 10,; 12 and 13. Secured to one offtwo abutting members ofthe conveyer train, 'or truck and draw bar. train 'isa projecting arm 75 termi',- nating in vertically spaced jaws Y6-between which is lmounteda ballor rollerl 77. Secured to the 2ldjacent member of the corresponding train. is ya swinging hook 78 adapted to-encircle and embrace thekball or roller 77,l asshown in Figure 13. This hook `78 terminates'in a.-forked.oute`r end 79. Laterallyv spaced from. the pivoty of the swingingA hook-,78 is thev pivot'ofa swinging bolt 81, upon the outerend, of which is ythreaded anutv 82.

In coupling, adjacent members of theA two trains arebrought into proper position. First, thetwo vertically aligned hooks.' 78 are swung to embrace l1`5 thetwovertically Aalignedballs or rollers 77, and thenthe two vertically,aligned'bolts 81are swung tofpass between. the jaws of `the forked outer ends 79 ofthe hooks 78.."Finally, the nuts 82 aretightenedand members of the train are thusl properly connected. vIn uncoupling, the nuts I82 are-,loosened after which the hooks 78 lare free y toben-.swung to disengage the balls or rollers-*77. ,Any wear between the 'engaging' members` of thecoupling devicemay be readily compensated vl lostniotion is thus prevented. v From the foregoing disclosure of thefconstruc` tion and operation'- of v'the ifinvention, it will be tively long'longitudinal distances not restrict-- ed to a straight path; and, fifth; `such 'ay reduc-` tion of vibration ;of supporting structures for shaker conveyers softhattheyY may; be rsafely mounted upon trestles or other desired carrying' means, thereby extending their scoped-usefulness and, eliminating the use of powerfulandexi l pensive, retaining jacks .wedgedlbetween the topl50.

and bottom of mine tunnels now ployed. Y

While the practical embodiment of this invention, which isl herein illustrated anddescribed, is the preferred form, it must be'understood that it is in no senseV a limitation of the invention. Many changes, alterations and modications of the various parts and their relation to one another will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and it is contemplated that this invention includes all such changes, alterations and modiiications as are in accordance with the principles of the invention as herein set forth and such as'fall within the scope ofthe following claims.

What I claim is:

l. The combination, in a material conveying device, of a mobile power unit, a pair of mobile trains of supporting members coupled thereto and extending, respectively, forwardly and rearwardlyy therefrom, a pair of trains of conveyer members supported, respectively, upon said trains of supporting'members but reciprocable in respect thereto, means carried by said mobile power unit foroscllating said conveyer trains simultaneously` but in opposite directions, and means carried by said mobile power unit for moving itself and said mobile trains of supporting members.

2. The combination, in a material conveying device, of a plurality of c'onveyer members and means for connecting said members, end to end, to form a train, said connecting means including aV projecting portion on one conveyer member terminating in a ball, a pivotally mounted hook on an adjacent conveyer member adapted to embrace said ball, and pivotally mounted means for retaining said hook in ballembracing position.

3. The combination, in a material conveying device, of a reciprocatory conduit comprising two usually em- `sections of a plurality of 'connected elements, a

railway track, trucks on said track for reciprocally supporting said conduit on said track, means for bodilymoving said trucks with the conduit on said track, means vcarried by one of said trucks and attached to the adjacent ends of said twosections so constructed and arranged to rec iprocate said sections in rectilineall paths and in such'a manner that the reciprocations- 'of one section are opposite in direction to the reciprocationsV of the other section, and all the elements of the conduit conveying the material in the same direction and said reciprocations being characterized by slowly accelerated rapidly retarded velocity alternating with` rapidly accelerated slowly retarded` velocity and ina denite and fixed relation toeach other and in relation to said supportingtrucks. i

4. Thecombination, in. a material conveying device, of a reciprocatory conduit comprising two sections of a plurality of separate connecting and supporting, members, means for flexibly securing said connecting lmembers to said supportingA tions and so Vconstructed and arranged tol r'e-vr ciprocate one section on said trucks in oppositedirection to the reciprocation of the other sec.-

tion, and all the elements of the conduit conveying the material in the same direction, and said reciprocations being characterized. by slowly accelerated rapidly retarded velocity alternating with rapidly accelerated slowly retarded velocity and in a denite and xed relation to each otherv and in relation to said trucks.

, 5. The combination, in. a material conveying device, of a reciprocatory conduit comprising two sections ofv substantiallyv equal weight adapted to overlap at their adjacent ends and moving in rectilinear paths, means for reciprocally supporting said sections, amotor, oscillating means moving in a horizontal plane and so constructed, arranged and directly and independently Vconnected to each of the adjacent ends of said sections and with said motor forreciprocating said two sections of said conduit with slowly accelerated rapidly retarded'ad-vance strokesI alter-- nately with rapidly accelerated slowly retarded return. strokesin a definite and Xed relation toeach other and' to said supporting means, vsaid advance strokes of one section of the conduit occurring during the return strokes of the `other section..V 5

6. Thecombination, in a material conveying device, of a reciprocatory conduit comprising twov sections of substantially requal weight and moving in rectilinear paths, means Yfor reciprocally supporting said sections, two separated pivotally mounted levers oscillating in a horizontal plane, one of said levers having one of its ends connected to one of the adjacent ends of said sections, and the other lever having one of its ends connected to the adjacent end of the other section, a motor, means connected to said motor so constructed, arranged and interconnected with the other ends' of said twoseparated pivotally mounted levers for reciprocating said two sections of said conduit with slowly accelerated rapidly retarded advance strokes alternately with rapidly accelerated slowlyretarded return strokesin a definite and xed relation to each other and in relation to said supporting means, said 'advance strokes of one section of the conduit occurring during the return strokes of the other' section.

'7. The combination, in a material conveying device, of a reciprocatory conduit comprising two sections of substantially equal weight adapted tol overlap at their adjacent ends and mov- Ving in rectilinear paths, means for reciprocally' supporting said sections, two separated pivotally mounted levers oscillating in a horizontal plane', one of said levers having one of its ends connected to 'one of the adjacent endsv of said sections, and the other lever having one of its ends' connected to the' adjacent end of the other section, and the other end of each of the pivotally mounted levers being provided with a link, a motor in proximity to the adjacent ends of said sections, means connected to said motor and each of said links pivoted to said levers for reciprocating said two sections of said conduit withv slowly accelerated rapidly retarded advance strokesalternately with rapidly accelerated slowly retarded return strokes in a denite and Xed relation to each other and in relation to said supporting means, said advance strokes of` one section of the conduit occurring during the return strokes of the other section,

8. Thel combination, in a material conveying device, of a reciprocatory conduit comprising two sections of substantially equal weight adapted Vance strokes alternately With rapidly accelerated slowly retarded return strokes in a denite and xed relation to each other and to said supporting means, said advance strokes of one section of the conduit occurring during the return strokes of the other section.

EDWIN H. ALLFREE. 

